The Life in My Years

Relax. Just relax and have fun doing what you’re doing. Don’t worry so much about being results oriented. Just commit yourself to the moment.” —John Goodman

This week’s Lens-Artist prompt, “Time to Relax,” comes from Anne Sandler of Slow Shutter Speed.

Relaxation isn’t an easy thing these days. High prices, a little war here and there, social media. How do you calm the jitters?

I’ve often found relaxation in the pages of a book. I guess books are a sort of balancing act. I do read about politics which can raise the blood pressure, but before I turn off the lights at night I enjoy delving into poetry or maybe a good detective story.

“Outside of a dog, a book is man’s best friend. Inside of a dog it’s too dark to read.”
― Groucho Marx

There are stories, personal ones, in the pages of the books above. The Pickwick Papers, This Is My Best, and Here is Your War all came from my father’s library. The latter of the three is still timely. My heart was warmed and my faith in the future generations was boosted when my grandson asked to read Maus. Frank Deford’s, Over Time was personally autographed by the author, an accomplished sports writer whose pieces I looked forward to reading every week when my copy of Sports Illustrated arrived in the mail. I met Mr. Deford at a talk he gave at San Francisco’s Commonwealth Club. What a twist of fate that when I left the talk and turned on the radio, Giants pitcher Matt Cain was throwing a perfect game. I got home just in time to see the last inning.

The book on the far left? Required reading.

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One of my favorite things is to go out for coffee and find a table in the sun and just sit and get lost in a book. The two sitting outside of a patisserie in Paris seem to be unwitting soulmates.

Just do it!

“Life is more fun if you play games.” ― Roald Dahl, My Uncle Oswald

When COVID was in it’s rancid salad days; when necessary confinement caused stress, I often went to the beach. At the beach you could follow the rules and still feel relaxed and safe. I suppose I’m a poor Californian in that I’ve never surfed. What I like about the image below is that the blond surfer girl heading out into the waves of the Pacific Ocean evokes the classic California folklore.

“Men do not quit playing because they grow old; they grow old because they quit playing.” ― Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr.

I was sitting at Union Square in San Francisco when I saw this young man playing at kendama.

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Most of us schlubs have to work to keep food on the table, the elements out, and the wolf from the door. Work – it’s the thing you do. A break is what you look forward to. It was still relatively early for the dinner crowd at a restaurant in Madrid’s Plaza Major when the two waiters in the image below stopped for a break. The man on the left seems to be expounding on the meaning of life.

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“Good communication is as stimulating as black coffee and just as hard to sleep after.”
― Anne Morrow Lindbergh, Gift from the Sea

What was always the first order of business on the Monday morning return to the office? Go to the break room, make coffee, have a few sips, peruse the donuts in the pink box, tell yourself you shouldn’t, say “fuck it,” as you grab one, and catch up on the weekend doings, sports, and politics (okay maybe not politics).

What do we text old friends whom we haven’t seen in awhile and we just want to enjoy some good conversation? “Let’s meet for coffee.”

I took the image below at Caffe Trieste in San Francisco, on a Saturday morning, the Saturday morning when Trump started his latest war. What better way to try to relax in stressful times than with a cup of good coffee and a friend?

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“Being a mom has made me so tired. And so happy.” —Tina Fey

I really don’t know how my wife Cora did it; working and taking care of two kids, our son in the photo below, and her husband. You find relaxation in just catching a moment when you can

relax.

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“Happiness is a warm puppy.” ― Charles M. Schulz

A dog. No other words required.

The image below was taken at a Juneteenth celebration in the local city park.

And since we’re on the subjects of relaxation and dogs, I don’t know of any species that has so cultivated the art of relaxation as the dog.

My dogs have always had an affinity for my running shoes.

Below, my Rainey liked the Asics GT-2000 nose rest. The banner photo is my Lexi.

Yes, there is indeed a dog in the photo below. Lexi’s cosplay as a barbershop floor.

Now that you’ve reached the end of this post it’s time to relax and go over to Slow Shutter Speed and check out Anne’s take on relaxation.